Best Motherboard for E8500

[a_zidane]

Hi. I am getting an E8500 and would like to know what the best motherboard would be for this CPU. I will be using 8gb (4x2gb) DDR 1066, and either a 4870 or a gtx 260 gpu, a sumbeam core contact freezer, and I will want to overclock the e8500 as much as possible (with it being stable). Please let me know which motherboards are best for each gpu. Thanks

 

[badge]

For best OC and GPU performance = X48. P45 would also be fine, but does not have PCIE 2.0 2 x 16 like the X48. If you are not using Crossfire, a P35would even be a good chipset for OCing.

 

[a_zidane]

what if I used the gtx 260, and eventually want SLI?

 

[badge]

Then you have to buy a Nvidia chipset which will not overclock and have the stability of an Intel chipset. If it were my choice for dual graphics cards, I would choose two Radeon 4850s and Crossfire them on an X48/P45.

 

[badge]

Have you used an nvidia 680i, 750, 780 or 790i chipset in the past? What Intel chipsets have you used?

 

[a_zidane]

Ok.... I was looking at a few of the P45 boards (because they are cheaper) ... how would the ASUS P5Q-E overclock, will it do it as well as an X48 mobo (X48 uses DDR3 doesn't it)? The P5Q-E has 2x 2.0 PCI-e x16 ....

 

[a_zidane]

Have you used an nvidia 680i, 750, 780 or 790i chipset in the past? What Intel chipsets have you used?

The last motherboard I used to overclock my old Dual Core was the ABIT AL8. Thanks

 

[badge]

ASUS P5Q-E has 1 PCIE 2.0 16x slot. Does Crossfire 8 x 8 which is fine with 2 x 4850. Will OC great compared to a nvidia chipset.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131296

DDR2 X48, dual PCIE 2.0 16x will do 16 x 16 Crossfirex. Beyond dual Radeon 4850's in this Crossfire config is overkill presently. Unless you are playing games at some ultra high resolution this setup is great.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131284

 

[badge]

The X48/P45 or even P35 will OC significantly better than and old AMD socket 939 NF4.

 

[a_zidane]

Ok, but X48 has a DDR3 memory standard, won't that mean that I can't use my DDR2??

 

[badge]

X48 can be DDR2 (the X48 board I posted is DDR2) or DDR3 is available also.

 

[a_zidane]

Sorry I just noticed that but then again this mobo is a lot more expensive than the P45 ones :S can u recommend a similar less expensive one (if I'm going to spend $150 more, wouldn't it be better to put it into a better CPU or GPU?) Thanks.

 

[badge]

Well, X48's are still at a premium. X48 is the top of the line. The ASUS P45 you listed is fine. P45 has dropped to below the $100 price mark in some instances since last week.

 

[a_zidane]

Is it worth spending the extra money to get an X48 or is it better to put it towards a better video card or cpu (4870 or 4870x2?)

 

[badge]

With an X38 and a single Radeon 3870, my 3D Mark 06 was 10,700. I added a second 3870 in Crossfirex and my score went to 15,700. So, Crossfire will give a significant performance boost from a sngle card in the right situation. An e8500 OC'd to 3.5+ with Crossfired 4850's is really going to be a great system. The 4870 has DDR5 RAM and a 1GB model is available. This would work great for my 40" Samsung 1080i. If you choose a single card, the 4870x2 would also be a good canditate to be pushed right along with your OC'd e8500. Like I said An x48 or P45 with two 4850's in Crossfirex is an affordable solution to a high end system. OCing an e8500 in conjunction with that setup should provide a seriously fast, stable gaming system. Of course the e8600 at 4.5Ghz. on air would score higher 8).

 

[a_zidane]

Ok so I'm considerign getting an X48 mobo... u suggested the asus rampage, but whats better in that one than the asus p5e deluxe, for about 75$ less?

 

[badge]

THe P5E Deluxe X48 has only one ethernet connector, that's it. 8). I believe the Ramapge Formula uses the ROG (Republic of gamers) BIOS which has some very nice overclocking features. Not sure if the P5E Deluxe uses ROG BIOS, it probably does, but not sure about that. The P5E Deluxe should be great! Same board as the Rampage without...well the name!

 

[a_zidane]

From what I read on google, I can flash the bios on the p5e deluxe to be the rampage bios. if so, would you say i should save the extra money and go with the p5e deluxe (will both motherboards have the same overclocking features if the bios are the same?) Thanks again

 

[badge]

Yeah, should be the same OCing with the ASUS X48. I have the ASUS Maximus Formula Special Edition X38. When I go to the ASUS product page, there is nothing listed there, no BIOS nothing! I have to go to a common ASUS X38 site, not the Special Edition site. So, the only difference between the two ASUS x48 boards are one ethernet port and the chipset heatsinks. The ethernet is on the southbridge, so that would not effect performance. The cheaper board is a great solution. Not much more than the P45. And you get the higher binned x48 chipset with PCIE 2.0 16 x 2. That's as good as it gets for the C2D/C2Q using DDR2.

 

[badge]

ASUS revamped or enhanced their American Megatrends BIOS with a lot of great OCing features beginning with the X38. It's called the ROG for now. It's really pretty impressive. I love my system. It's amazing.

 

[a_zidane]

ok perfect! do u know how high the e8500 should overclock with that setup (p5e deluxe)??

 

[badge]

E8500 will OC to 3.5-3.6GHz or better on air. Just bump up the FSB, and adjust the memory voltage, speed and timings to specs. You may have to increase the Nb voltage to 1.4v. I have the e8400 too. If you want to go much higher than 3.6Ghz. or so, you would need better cooling. The e8600 will OC to near 4.5GHz. on air! Higher binned, latest stepping.

 

[a_zidane]

But I read in some forums people overclocking the e8500 to 4.2ghz on air... i will be using a sunbeam core contact freezer, 3 180mm fans and 1 120mm fan....

 

[badge]

You should get a really nice overclock with that ASUS x48. Enough to push dual video cards in Crossfirex right along. Should score high on the synthetic benches.

 

[badge]

You would have to push a lot of volts at the e8500 and MB to get to 4.2GHz. Somehwre up there, you would need watercooling to be stable.